Dirigible airship



Nov. 30 1926.

J. w. SILVER.

DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP Filed may 17,

A A A v? mvsmon a JESSE 11/65. VEI? J ATTORNEY Nov- "30 1926.

1,608,822 J. w. SILVER DIRIGIBLE AIHSHIP Filed ma 1'7, 1924 2 heetshe t 2 INVENTOR 125.5: 14 11. 115R Patented Nov. 30. 1926.

UNITED stare Parent oriics.

JESSE W. SILVER, QIF TACGMA, WASHING-TON.

DIRIGIBLE ninsrrir.

Appucansn filed 17,

This invention relates to improvements in aircrafts and more particularly to dirigible airships of the lighter than air character.

It is the principal object of this invention to improve upon airships, as heretofore constructed, so as to provide a more substantial, serviceable and more easily controlled craft by a construction wherein there is employed a pliirality of gas containers, arranged in symmetrical, or balanced relation, about a central frame work which joins the containers rigidly in parallel relation.

More specifically stated, the invention resides in the provision of an airship of the above character employing four elongated, cigar shaped gas bag containers which are joined in parallel relation at the tour angles of a central, longitudinally extended frame structure which, in cross section, is substantially the shape 'ofa Greek cross, and Whereinthe cargo space, motive power devices, ballast, etc, are located centrally of the name sothat the center of mass of the whole structure lies within a vertical plane through the center and longitudinally of the frame structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dirigible airship of lighter than air construction, embodying many features of heavier than air aircraft, which will. add to thesafety of the device in navigation and will serve as a means of safe landing should any accident occur which would render one or more of the gas containers useless.

Another' object of the invention is to provide an airship of the above type of construction wherein the gas bag containers, cargo and passenger compartments, and frame structure are so arranged that the usual undesirable-efiec'ts of side] and cross currents of air are reduced to a minimum.

A still further objectresides in the specific construction of the frame structure that makes ossible the mounting of aircraft guns, or the like, at points from which an enemy attack, made from any direction, could be resisted. i

other objects reside in the provision of tanks for Waterballast and pipes for transferring this ballast to ditterent points so as to maintain the ship at a desired level re ardless of uneven loading and which further 'p'rdvides for maintaining the ship at a uniformweight. V

"Still further objects reside in the novel 1924. F'l-El'iill m, 713.891.

features in the construction of the frame, the win-gs. or planes and their arrangement in the frame, also, in the provision of fore and aft engines on rotatahly movable mountinp s which enables them to drive the ship in either a forward or rearward direction and which will. make possible the landing or raising of the ship in substantially a vertical direction.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the ii'nproved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accoihpanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a diri- ,Qfible airship const *iieted in accordance with the present invention.

Figiire 2 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view of the same, showing the shape oi the frame strncture and the disposition of the cargo and tiassenger compartment with respect to the four gas bag containers;

Figure 3 is a central, vertical section taken longitudinally of the ship, showing the lo cation of the fore and aft engines and the tanks for the water ballast.

Figure 4: is a central, horizontal section of the ship illustrating the disposition of the engines and the planes Within the frame structure at opposite sides of the passenger and cargo space. p Figure 5 is a view illustrating a rotatable turret of the type used for mounting the engines.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- 1, 2. 3 and 4, respectively, designate four gas ban containers of cylindrical or slightly tapered construction that are arranged in parallel relation and secured rigidly together within the four angles formed by a longitudinally extending frame structure, the main portion of which has a cross-sectional shape resembling the shape of a Greek cross.

The gas bag containers, either tapered or cylindrical inform, would be made up of. a plurality otring sections, as designated at 5 in Figure 2, and which would be joined by beams 6 extending in a longitudinal direction. Then, over the frame structure thus provided would be secured a suitable, sheet metal casing 8 which would serve to protect the gas bags. 9 contained therein. Since this invention does not reside in features of construction relating to the containers, except in a general way, it will be stated here that they may be of the same general construction as those embodied in airships already in use.

The main frame structure is made up of upper and lower transverse beams 10 and 11 arranged in pairs at suitably spaced intervals longitudinally of the frame and paired, spaced apart vertical beams 12 and 13 that are secured rigidly to the horizontal beams. These horizontal and vertical beams are all fastened securely to the rings or framework of the gas bag containers so that the whole structure is held perfectly rigid in a unitary structure. To add further to the strength and rigidity, the outer ends of all the upper and lower horizontal beams 10 and 11 are joined respectively by beams 14 and 15 that extend longitudinally of the ship and these are connected by. vertical posts or brace bars 16 having their upper and lower ends fixed to the frame structure of the upper and lower gas bag containers. The vertical beams 12 and 13 likewise are joined by transverse beams 17 which also join the frame structure of the gas bag containers at opposite sides of the ship.

The bracing described may further be supplemented by the wires or brace bars arranged as is thought necessary to give ample rigidity and durability to the structure.

Extending centrally of the frame, longitudinally of the ship, is a somewhat cylindrical, compartment 20 for passengers and cargo. This may be equipped with windows and doors, as desired, or required, and may be divided in various ways according to the use or requirements of the device. It is preferred to provide separate compartments 21 and 22 forwardly and at the rear of the passenger compartment, serving respectively as the pilot house and crews quarters.

The balance of the ship is maintained preferably by a water ballast contained in a plurality of tanks 25 mounted in spaced apart relation longitudinally of the ship, on a platform 26 that is supported by the lower cross beams 17 between the two lower gas bags. Each of these tanks has-a valved connection with a pipe 28 that extends beneath them and through which they may all be filled or emptied. This provides for shifting the ballast or for discharging it so that a uniform weight may be maintained and the ship kept on an even or desired keel.

To facilitate sailing, rising or landing, I have also equipped the ship with a plurality of planes, or wings, 30. These are disposed at opposite sides of the passenger compartm'ent between the upper and lower bags, and are attached, at their inner ends, to the vertical beams 12 and 13 and attheir outer ends to the vertical beams 16 and intermediate their ends are made rigid by struts extended between the horizontal beams 10 and 11. These wings would be so designed and mounted as to best serve the purpose for which they are intended and could be equipped, if desired, with ailerons for assisting in navigating the ship. However, the details of the wing construction is not a part of this invention. t would be preferred, in a ship three hundred feet long, to place a wing at each side in each of the panels formed between sections of the main frame and these would be located at intervals of approximately thirty feet, longitudinally of the ship. It is apparent, however, that more or fewer planes-could be used if so desired, or that wings could be placed only at the forward and rearward ends.

The means which I have provided for propelling the ship, consists of four engines, designated at 40, arranged in pairs at opposite sides forwardly and rearwardly of the passenger and cargo compartment and toward the longitudinal center of the ship so as to retain the weight near this center, as

is shown best in Figure 4. Each of these engines is equipped with the usual propeller 41 and is mounted on a horizontally rotatable turret 42 formed as a part of a frame structure 43 provided at its upper and lower ends, with trunnions, 44 and 45 whereby it is held pivotally in the main frame. The turning and directing of the ship is, to a great extent, controlled by the position of the engines, it being apparent that should the propellers at one end of the ship tend to force that end laterally in one direction and the engines at the opposite end work in an opposite direction, a quicker turn could be made than by use of a rudder alone. Also by directing the force of all the engines in one, or the same lateral direction the ship could be shifted bodily in a lateral direction, or it could be made to travel in a rearward direction.

The means which I have illustrated for rotating the engine turrets 42 consists of gear wheels 56, see Figure 5, fixed to the upper supporting trunnions of the turret frames and worm gears 58 mounted on control shafts 59 in mesh with the gears 56. The shafts 59 are rotatably mounted in the frame and extend to the pilot house where suitable mechanism would be provided for individually rotating them to effect any desired adjustment of the engine with which they individually connect.

To facilitate guiding the ship in flight and to compensate for lateral air currents, I have provided a rudder 5O centrally and at the rear of the frame mounted pivotally by means of a vertical post 51 and con trolled by shafts or other mechanism operable from the pilot house.

To facilitate landing, or rising, I have provided additional engines designated at 60, centrally at each end of the frame. These are equipped with the usual type of propellers and the engines are mounted to rotate in a vertical plane so that the force of the propellers may be directed upwardly or downwardly. If it is desired to rise quickly the engines would both be rotated to direct the force downwardly and likewise to facilitate landing, they would both be rotated to direct their force upwardly and to drive the ship downwardly. It is apparent also that these engines could, if desired, be used to assist the other engines for direct rearward or forward travel.

lVhile I have not illustrated runways or walks to the various parts of the ship, it is intended that such could be provided so that the operators, or engineers could have quick and easy access to all parts.

This frame construction provides also for the mounting of air craft guns so that the ship could be used to great advantage as a weapon of defense.

It is to be understood that various details of construction could be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention and for this reason it is not intended that the invention be limitedv only to the device as shown herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. An airship of the character described comprising a rigid, elongated frame structure having a cross-sectional shape resembling a cross, and four elongatedcylindrical containers for a supporting medium secured in spaced, parallel relation within the four angles formed by the frame structure.

An airship of the character described comprising a rigid, elongated frame structure having a cross-sectional shape resem bling a cross, and four elongated cylindrical containers for a supporting medium secured in spaced, parallel relation within the four angles formed by the frame structure and a passenger and cargo compartment centrally of the frame.

3. An airship of the character described comprising a rigid, elongated frame structure having a cross-sectional shape resembling a cross, and four elongated cylindrical containers for a supporting medium secured in spaced, parallel relation within the four angles formed by the frame structure and a passenger and cargo compartment centrally of the frame and a pair of propelling devices mounted in the frame at opposite ends of the. ship and at opposite sides of the longitudinal line.

4. An airship of the class described comprising a plurality of elongated gas bag containers, a frame structure joining said containers in parallel, spaced apart relation, propelling devices mounted in the frame and a plurality of tanks mounted in the frame at spaced intervals longitudinally thereof and below the central line, and a pipe connecting said containers for the transfer of liquid ballast from one tank to another.

5. An airship of the character described 

